Passage
to India
Webpage: http://www.eatingpa.com/passage.html
Locations: Harrisburg, Lancaster
Atmosphere: Casual / Dress Casual
Entrée Price Range: $9-$21
Rating: Excellent food, reasonably priced. Highly Recommended.
Review by Aaron
Passage to India of Harrisburg is a preferred destination
for those seeking a meal that is both extraordinary and reasonably
priced. If you want to taste food unlike most anything you’ve
eaten before, stop by this restaurant and enjoy the many exquisite
flavors of genuine Indian cuisine.
The restaurant is located on South Front Street, within the
Comfort Inn Hotel complex overlooking the Susquehanna River.
From the outside, it looks like an ordinary hotel restaurant,
but upon entering through the “golden” door, you
will be greeted with a warm décor and friendly staff.
Like many people, I was very reluctant to try Indian food,
based on my preconceived notion that all of it was just curry-based
and boring. It simply never appealed to me. But following
repeated prodding by a friend who swore I’d love it,
I caved in and went for it. Fortunately for me, this friend
had been there many times and was familiar with many of the
dishes and guided me towards the better choices. The description
on the menu can only give a limited explanation of what to
expect, however, if it sounds good, it probably will be to
your liking.
The appetizer menu is large, with numerous good choices.
I always order Naan, an Indian flat bread much like a pita,
which is served warm and crispy from the tandoori (clay) oven.
You can have it plain or stuffed with various ingredients
(like garlic, basil, or chicken) and it comes along with three
different types of sauce for dipping. I also like to order
either the Vegetable Pakora or Samosa. The Vegetable Pakora
is an assortment of delectable batter-dipped deep fried veggies
while the Samosa is a deep fried breaded fritter stuffed with
a mix of potato and peas. Both are extremely scrumptious.
Many of the entrées are prepared in a similar manner
with your choice of chicken, lamb, seafood, or vegetarian.
As is the case with most Indian restaurants, beef is not served
due to religious reasons. (Hindus consider the cow a sacred
animal.) I prefer chicken, so my choices are from that section.
My absolute favorite is Chicken Xacutti (pronounced sha-koo-tee).
It is a very spicy (spelled HOT!) dish with a delicious mixture
of aromatic spices. It is unlike any other food I have eaten,
so I cannot compare it to any regular food I’ve had
before. But trust me, if you like spicy food, this dish is
a winner. My girlfriend loves and always gets the Mango Chicken,
which is not spicy at all but is very sweet and is quite suitable
for an introductory Indian meal. I also frequently order Chicken
Vindaloo, a spicy piquant-based dish with potatoes and pearl
onions, and Chana Chicken, a creamy curry mixture with chickpeas.
Dinners are also served with basmati rice flavored with saffron
and other exotic spices.
On weekdays, an extensive buffet is served during lunch hours.
For those who are still a bit skeptical of Indian food, this
would be a good place to start. There are many different selections
that are not too spicy and provide a broad variety of what
the restaurant has to offer. I like my food spicy, so dinner
rather than buffet is my choice.
From the dessert menu, replete with sweet and savory choices,
I would try anything and everything. I’ve had each of
the selections on different occasions and loved them all.
Most of the time, however, we’re too stuffed to have
dessert, but once in a while you just need it. So, go for
it and enjoy!
From the beginning of this review, you knew my appraisal
would be favorable. Passage to India is one of my personal
favorites that I recommend for anyone looking to try something
different, delicious, and inexpensive.
Notes:
Credit Cards Accepted; Alcohol Served, Excellent Service;
Non-Smoking; Nice Décor; Friendly & Attentive Staff;
Private Rooms and Catering Available, Wheelchair Accessible;
Take Out.
|
